Setting Up A Connection

Colossians 1:17 "And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." 

I believe this is the close of week 5, possibly 6 including what was supposed to be Spring break, the second week --  #COVID19 social distancing shutdown. I cannot complain. I am getting paid for sleeping in, reading, catching up on streaming shows, a lot of time to work in and enjoy my garden. Witnessing so many caterpillars consume the milkweed I planted for them, grow 1000x their size and find their designated spot in which to shed their skin, pull down a chrysalis blanket around them and reform their protein into a butterfly--simply  amazing!. If you were to come for a visit, I'd point out the 15 hanging, bright green homes where metamorphisis is taking place. 

Is there a metamorphisis taking place in homes across the world? Are families changing for the better? Are we going to be able to see a positive, beautiful transformation after the stay-at-home order is gradually lifted? Is this connectivity to our families going to make a difference in lives and the future? When things return to normal, are they going to be just that...back to normal? Was normal OK? 

I've blogged consistantly about this virus, touching on the subjects of masks, death, hope, mercy and uncertainty. This week, the word, connectivity came to mind. 

Funny, because earlier today, my internet went out on my laptop. Nowhere else did this problem occur, so it definitely presented itself as some sort of glitch in my computer. Several hours of trying to troubleshoot with the provider and a servant at church--no success. I had a plan B, not too happy that I couldn't connect. I sent a prayer request out to my group of friends. Can God please help to intervene in technology? 

I am thinking He, God, has received many such a prayer in these last few weeks as the Body of Christ ministers together in this new normal for now, remotely and virtually, on line in living rooms and on cell phones, Zooming and You-Tubing!  Well, the world tries to stay connected. 

I am reconnected to the internet. It never left. Somehow, a setting changed to a wrong position and it blocked my connection. Maybe that is how some people feel about God--just not fully connected. They know He is there, but they can't seem to find the right way to approach Him, get reaquainted with Him, take the time to see what the "problem" is, relying on a Plan B if it gets to that point. 

God is always connected. It's our "settings" that  need some adjustments.The Apostle Paul reminds us in this verse that the Lord is before all things. He is the provider, the computer, the screen, the router, the WiFi, and we need to be the search engine plucking out on the keyboard of our souls these thoughts: 

Father, You are in Heaven, I am here. Help me to see Your Glory today. Please forgive me of my transgressions, my mess ups, my doubts and fears and lead me into Your will. Help me Lord to stay connected and allow me Lord to see that You hold it all together, all for Your glory, Amen. 

A setting of humility, a setting of recognition-- that God's grace is all sufficient. We are then empowered to do this life and stay connected to Him and to His will, whether we are out and about or home, congregating or social distancing, masked or not, healthy or compromised, young or old, black, white, purple, rich or poor...

Our settings by default need to be placed, in Him, our Creator. It is rather poetic of Paul as I reread this short but mighty verse.

He's before all things and in Him all things hold together. 

I challenge you to write several Post-It notes and strategically place them around your home to remind you of this verse. Where are the places you get caught-up in? Where do you need to see His all sufficient grace? Where do you recognize that God is holding you all together, to trust Him? 

Lord, I pray that this simple poetic line of scripture will help someone out there to reconnect to You and Your plan and Your love for them.Thank You Lord for always being The Mighty connection to what is Holy and worth persevering for. Help us all Lord to stay connected and thwart off the virus of apathy. Wayward settings lead us to false teaching and hoplessness. Lifestyles and choices allow some to feel useless, unable to connect to You Lord. But because You are the Risen Saviour, You provided that setting of Grace for all who believe. May we not choose the setting of our own way, but connect to the Spirit that always provides, from the before to the now and into the after. Amen. 

My Foolish First Response to a First Responder

Proverbs 14:7 Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern words of knowledge.

I laughed when I realized what he was saying, what I was thinking, the seriousness of it as well as the silliness of it, juxtaposed.

A dear friend who happens to be a firefighter saw a post on Facebook, one from a few days ago, on my page. Posting about a garland of pearls on my bare Christmas tree, he became alarmed...that this tree remained up in my house, that it was highly combustible.

But when I read the text, I thought he was texting about the pearls...I thought he meant the PEARLS were a danger!

What?  Pearls?
(In my defense, I was in class and maybe not fully reading my message).

Pearls strung in my artificial Christmas tree. 

In total humbleness...I was a fool, a bit sloppy in my reading and interpretation.

"Did you guys know pearls are highly combustible?" (Yes, I actually started a conversation--the foolishness continued).

"Please tell me your tree is artificial," the next text alerting me.

I read my phone again and laughed out loud at myself,  texting him back.

"Yes, my tree is fake and so are the pearls, no need to worry, my friend.

But you may need to worry about me.

"Never mind, pearls are good, both fake ones and real ones!"

My co workers can rest easy now, I am sure.  

I am thankful for wise friends, firefighting concerned friends who love me, because it's what they do and co-workers who laugh and give grace right along with me because--that is what we do.

My artificial Christmas tree is still up and I plan to decorate it for Valentine's Day soon, a garland of pearls hidden among the sparkly hearts and pink butterflies, the rose buds and the teddy bears with outstretched arms for hugs and the last few cards received from my sons, tucked in among the branches. That is not artificial.

My Valentines tree from a past year. 

How often do we trust, rely on the misinterpretations, contemplate the words of a fool, and dwell on our own silly or even serious mistakes--and miss the grace and the wisdom that God lovingly and mercifully gives us?

Lord, how thankful I am to have friends who speak truth into my life. You give us protection and grace within the body of Christ. Like sparkly hearts, wisdom and accountability touch us and like garland, wrap around us. These things are the real deal! May I have the ability to give myself grace when I don't see things as I should and give others the same grace. Help us Lord to seek wisdom and rid ourselves of foolish ways. Lord, some of us need to take a second look and take back a few foolish words and ideas we think and say. Sometimes, we just need to laugh at ourselves and move on. In that obedience, you turn our folly into wisdom, a gift to help others. Father God, lead us in this world, to not be so combustible but discerning and careful. Thank you Lord, for grace given, real concern from friends--our own First Responders in life.